On February 4th, during a joint hearing on local government at the New York State Legislature, Brooklyn State Assemblyman William Colton, State Senator Chen Xueli, and Assemblyman Zheng Yongjia raised questions to Mayor Adams about the 2026 state budget. The topics discussed included the location of homeless shelters, budget allocation, and issues related to Rikers Island prison. The meeting lasted nearly ten hours.
Assemblyman Zheng Yongjia questioned Mayor Adams about his previous promise to cease the construction of a super jail in Chinatown, which has now been justified by a city council mandate. He highlighted the project’s budget ballooning to $3.5 billion and inquired whether relocating the prison back to Rikers Island could save costs, with the land being repurposed for elderly housing or affordable housing.
Mayor Adams responded by stating that the city government has been discussing flaws in the plan with the city council. He pointed out that among the prisoners on Rikers Island, 51% have mental health issues and 27% suffer from severe mental illnesses. Adams believed that constructing four “doubly costly” community jails would not address the underlying issues. He suggested establishing mental health facilities to provide proper treatment and care instead. However, the final decision lies with the city council, not the mayor.
Furthermore, Assemblyman Zheng Yongjia noted that while New York City has closed multiple homeless shelters like Floyd Bennett Field, new ones are being established in places like Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Bronx. He questioned why the city government continues to expand shelter facilities while shutting down shelters for undocumented immigrants and whether existing spaces could be reused.
Mayor Adams responded by stating that regardless of the shelter’s location, it would face similar opposition. He mentioned that the Bronx already has over 30 homeless shelters, while other communities have few, necessitating a need to “equitably distribute the homeless crisis.” He also pointed out that New York’s shelter population includes not only immigrants but also a considerable number of unemployed homeless individuals from other parts of the U.S., leading to a sudden surge in demand for shelter.
Senator Chen Xueli highlighted the high daily cost of $750 per homeless individual, equivalent to $22,000 per person per month. He questioned whether providing $200 in daily subsidies, totaling $6,000 per month, could be a more effective solution to the problem.
Moreover, he criticized the establishment of a homeless shelter near the Brooklyn 20th Avenue subway station, fearing an increase in crime risks. He cited subway violence incidents on Coney Island, arguing that this action lacked rationality.
Mayor Adams reiterated the city’s commitment to transitioning the homeless to permanent housing and advancing the “Promise City” initiative to increase affordable housing. He emphasized the importance of convenient transportation for the homeless and cited data showing relatively low crime rates in the New York subway system. He stated, “On average, six serious crimes occur each day, which is relatively low among the 4.6 million daily passengers. But we have indeed failed in public perception, not in criminal justice issues.”
Assemblyman Colton criticized Mayor Adams for condemning homeless policies before taking office, claiming the system failed to genuinely help the homeless, yet expansion of homeless shelters persists. He cited reports indicating cronyism, lack of transparent bidding, and high-paid management benefiting from the system, resulting in the government spending $40 to $60 billion annually, which could escalate to $80 billion.
He emphasized that random attacks have increased, causing fear among citizens for subway and street safety. Colton questioned why the government continues to expand homeless shelters instead of reforming the current system. However, Colton posed a series of questions within three minutes, leaving no time for Adams to respond.